The Farasan Islands (Arabic: جزر فرسان; transliterated: Juzur Farasān) are a small group of coral islands approximately 40 km off the coast of Jizan in the Red Sea, belonging to Saudi Arabia.[2]
Native name: جزر فرسان | |
|---|---|
 Al-Rifai House built in traditional Farasani architecture | |
  Farasan Islands | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 16°48′00″N 41°51′00″E / 16.80000°N 41.85000°E |
| Type | Coral |
| Total islands | 176 |
| Administration | |
| Province | Jazan Province |
| Largest city | Farasan |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 13,529 (2022)[1] |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| Postal code | 88XXX |
The government provides free ferry rides twice a day to Farasan Islands from Jizan Port. The largest island of the archipelago is Farasan Island; others include Sajid Island and Zufaf Island. The islands are a popular tourist destination. In recent years the Saudi government has tried to increase the tourism quality and worth (as part of a larger tourism drive in the country) of the Islands in order to attract even more visitors.[3]
History
editIn the 1st century AD, the islands were known as Portus Ferresanus. A Latin inscription dating from 144 AD has been found on the island which attests to the construction of a Roman garrison. It is believed that the islands may have been attached to the province of Arabia Felix, before being transferred to Aegyptus some time before 144 AD.[4] If this is correct, it would make the Farasan Islands the farthest Roman outpost, being nearly 4,000 km (2,500 mi) from Rome itself[citation needed]. It remained this way up until the Arab Muslim conquest of the islands and subsequent Islamization[citation needed].
Climate
editThe climate in the Farasan archipelago is characterised by a long hot season (April–October) and a short mild one (November–March). In the long dry period, high temperatures are usually dominant. The mean annual temperature is 30 °C. Furthermore, the mean relative humidity in winter ranges from 70% to 80% and in summer between 65% and 78%. The highest rainfall occurs in April and the precipitation is generally unpredictable in the southern part of Red Sea.[5]
| Climate data for Farasan Islands | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30 (86) |
31 (88) |
33 (91) |
35 (95) |
37 (99) |
39 (102) |
40 (104) |
39 (102) |
38 (100) |
36 (97) |
34 (93) |
31 (88) |
35 (95) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 25.5 (77.9) |
26.5 (79.7) |
28 (82) |
30 (86) |
32 (90) |
34 (93) |
35 (95) |
34 (93) |
33 (91) |
30.5 (86.9) |
28.5 (83.3) |
26.5 (79.7) |
30.3 (86.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21 (70) |
22 (72) |
23 (73) |
25 (77) |
27 (81) |
29 (84) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
25 (77) |
23 (73) |
22 (72) |
25 (78) |
| Source: https://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/saudi-arabia/farasan-islands.php | |||||||||||||
Nature
edit
The Farasan Island Marine Sanctuary is a protected area. It is home to the Arabian gazelle, and, in winter, migratory birds from Europe.[6] Oceanic animals include manta rays,[7] whale sharks,[8] and several species of sea turtles including endangered and critically endangered green and hawksbill turtles, dugongs,[7] and several species of dolphins and whales with occasional visits by others such as orcas.[9][10][11][12]
Economy
editAfter a French engineer investigated petroleum seeps on the islands in 1912, a 75-year concession was granted to the Red Sea oilfields.[13] At the time, the Farasan Islands supported a small fishing industry.[14]
Tourism and fishing also play a role in the economy. Farasan Island is connected to Jezan port by ferry.
Gallery
edit-
Al-Rifai House -
Al-Rifai House From the Inside -
Details of Al-Rifai House in Farasan Islands -
Ottoman fort in Farasan Islands -
Al-Najdi Mosque in Farasan Islands -
Farasan Islands Beach -
Farasan Islands from the International Space Station -
Ras Shada in Farasan Islands -
Seagulls in Farasan Islands Beaches
References
edit- ^ "بوابة الهيئة - الصفحة الرئيسية". portal.saudicensus.sa (in Arabic).
- ^ "Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia". www.plantdiversityofsaudiarabia.info. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ "A Trip to Farasan Islands".
- ^ "New inscriptions from Saudi Arabia and the extent of Roman rule along the Red Sea". Tabulae Geographicae. March 31, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "The climate and the Farasan Archipelago topography | E-Flora of the Farasan archipelago".
- ^ "JAZAN PROVINCE – General Information". Archived from the original on 2017-08-20. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
- ^ a b Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. 2006. Science Diary – 8 May 2006. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
- ^ "Farasan Islands". Archived from the original on 2017-04-14. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
- ^ Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. 2006. Science Diary – 7 May 2006. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
- ^ Hoyt E. 2012. Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises: A World Handbook for Cetacean Habitat Conservation and Planning. The Routledge. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
- ^ Babbington J.. 2013. Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin – Offshore Farasan Islands. Birds of Saudi Arabia. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
- ^ علي رويني 2.654.258. 2017. ظهور الحوت القاتل في جزيرة فرسان - جزيرة سلوبه يعرف عنه اصطياد فرائسه من الشاطىء المقطع الاول. YouTube. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
- ^ Prothero, G.W. (1920). Arabia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 99.
- ^ Prothero, G.W. (1920). Arabia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 18.
External links
edit
- Saudi Aramco World: Dreaming of Farasan
- Farasan Island, a diver's paradise Archived 2016-03-02 at the Wayback Machine, Splendid Arabia: A travel site with photos and routes